962 – 965 Liberation of Minsk (part 2)
Syrka was meeting with High Chief Robin of Turov to discuss the disaster last fall at Vilnius and the next step in the war for Minsk.
I should have been there. Syrka thought, but he knew it wouldn’t have mattered. With his joints all swollen and painful with gout, he would have just died there with his father-in-law.
High Chief Robin, Syrka’s new War Chief, seemed to read his mind, “It seems every generation of Meryans must learn anew how to fight, and how not to fight, the Khazars. Ozheg had fought the Ashina in the eastern forests in his youth and won much honor and glory. And he also had success in the Liberation of Polotsk against Tarkhan’s riders in the forests of Lukoml. But he had never faced a nomad horde on their chosen ground, under the open sky. And there, on the open plains, such as those outside of Vilnius, the Khazar mounted archers reign supreme.”
“Most of the Meryan leaders have learned that lesson the hard way. High Chief Kubrat paid for that sword you wear at your side with the blood of 2,000 Meryan lives when he learned his lesson at the Battle of Zubstov. King Erziya ‘the Bold’ lost 6,000 men at the Battle of Izborsk and another 1,000 at Mstislavl defending Estonia from the Khazar horde. Though being the man that he was, he still snatched victory out of the jaws of those disasters. King Dergun ‘the Faceless’ learned that lesson while fighting alongside his father at Izborsk and was reminded of it every day after as he donned that mask to hide his disfigured face, courtesy of a steppe pony’s hoof. King Virdyan ‘the Usurper’ lost over 5,000 men to Khazaria at the Battles of Latgala and Liiviimaa, during the war for the Liberation of Pskov. King Nuyat….King Nuyat was the only one to master war on the steppe without a harsh lesson. He defeated the Ashina rebels on the border of the steppe in his war to claim Votyaki. After that he was smart enough to scoop up those who had escaped from Khazaria’s rule and not challenge the nomads again directly.
“Yet take heart, King Syrka, for despite those hard lessons, all of your predecessors ultimately won their wars. They learned, and so must we.”
Syrka smiled, “Thank you Robin, that is encouraging to know, even our greatest of leaders didn’t allow such setbacks to keep them from victory”
“So where do we stand?”
Robin nodded, “First, the Merry Men were hit hard, we lost close to a third of their number at Vilnius. What’s worse, because of Khazars close pursuit and second attack at Beresty, we were not able to recover their arms and armor, we suspect they are now decorating felt tents out on the steppe.”
Syrka asked, “What does that mean?”
Robin sighed, “That means, before that battle the Merry Men could field 2,200 men in full battle kit. Now, after these losses, the most the warband can field is some 1,600 men, unless you are able to pay to arm and equip new companies to replace those that were lost.
Syrka looked uncomfortable, knowing that many of the men who were lost had been with Robin for years, decades even. “We can’t afford the expenditure right now, but we will raise new companies in the future.”
Robin nodded, “In that case, we will have to make up the losses with levys, both your personal ones, as well as from your vassals and allies. But I think by the spring thaw we should have close to 10,000 men ready to march.”
All winter, while the new levys were gathering and the stragglers from the defeated army staggered back to the rally point in Vitebsk, life continued in Yaroslavl.
One of the former hostages from Latgale, Skornand Vidins, embraces Mordvin culture. Syrka tries to help settle an argument between High Chief Nuyaksha of Murom and his wife, but Nuyaksha does not welcome his interference. Varaka Kardazid and Cherava Meryvavid have a daughter Poshayka. A more civilized Khazar, the High Chief of Khozistan, wants non-aggression pact. After two embarrassing defeats at the hands of the Khazar, Syrka agrees. High Chief Nuyaksha of Mochkava, the current heir, is appointed as Commander to replace Robin following his promotion to War Chief. Malusha Kryvich is born and will be taught Merya's religion and culture.
The Udine clan continues to grow. A beautiful girl, Tekay of Udine, is born to Uchva and Liubava. And Viryas of Udine, comes of age, a master of diplomacy, a Grey Emminence, and he marries his betrothed, Zvenislava Kryvich.
Syrka’s eldest son had also come of age. Tunya Kardzid has become a tough-minded soldier, but was dull of personaily and fragile of body, not what Syrka hoped. Syrka’s second son, Tutyra, turned 12 years old and will be trained for war by High Chief Wayngachi. But more importantly to the King, he now has a sixth son, his seventh legitimate and acknowledged child, who is named Syrka, who had been born just after the new year began.
And far to the east, Perm has been looted by raiders.
Then the winter was over and the Meryan army had regrouped in Vitebsk and were once more moving to the Minsk area. After a brief skirmish in Slonim, Novogrodek is captured. All targets of the liberation war are now held by Merya.
But then there was an unexpected setback. The War Chief, Champion of Merya and High Chief of Turov, Robin, died a natural death at age of 70. The Meryan army has once again lost its leader. Luckily, this time it was not in the heat of battle, so adjustments could be made. Syrka chose High Chief Salinder of Nidaros as the new War Chief and he was sent west to take command of the war.
Robin’s son, Nuyaksha, becomes the new High Chief of Turov, and Syrka's lover Badiat is now High Chieftess, and Syrka's secret son, Robin, is heir to Turov. Before Badiat had left to join her husband in his new home, she had told Syrka she was pregnant again with a third child of Syrka's. Syrka had planned to visit Badiat during her pregnancy, but it was more difficult to arrange and justify as she was now in Turov with her husband. But before he could find a good excuse to visit, learns of some terrible news. Badiat has died of cancer and their unborn child has died with her. Syrka is forced to mourn and suffer alone as no one else ever knew of their affair, and he can’t risk a public display that might threaten the future of the two surviving children they had conceived together.
Under War Chief Salinder the Liberation of Minsk resumes. Slonim in Novogrodek falls in siege and then the Meryans head east toward more Khazarian territory. Chernigov is captured next. The wife of the Khan of the Tarmaçid was taken prisoner at Chernogov along with a dozen others, 5 are worthy of ransom. They are all sent back to Yaroslavl and negotiations for ransoms begin, starting with the Khanum.
Meanwhile, the Meryans have moved to Priluk, the main Khazarian encampment. It is quickly captured, but none of the Khagan’s family are taken prisoner. With no sign of the Khazar horde, the Meryans pull back to home territory for the winter.
That winter two Catholic missionaries arrive in Yaroslavl. The first is a man named Dytryk, from Poland, sent by King Jakusz, or his regency council anyway. As all the missionaries before him, he is quickly imprisoned. The regents of Poland refuse to pay his ransom, so he will remain in Syrka’s dungeons.
The second missionary to arrive is Bishop Iuan of Maelruusan in service to King Achiuir of Pictland. Bishop Iuan had come to Yaroslavl before, almost a decade earlier, but he is brave enough and dedicated enough to return once again try and convert the pagan people. He too is arrested. Once again, Bishop Iuan pays for his own release, and Syrka warns him to never to return. But the Bishop says he goes where King Achiuir 'the Brute’ of Pictland and God send him. Syrka also asks if he was willing to pay for his fellow missionay’s release, but Bishop Iuan refuses and leaves Dytryk behind. So much for Christian charity.
Tetyava the younger, daughter of Tetyava 'the Merry', returned to Yaroslavl following the death of her husband from Great Pox. Chief Tuure of Kemi, son of the late King of Suomi, was not a faithful husband and life in the last few years had been tough as the disease drove him mad. Their newborn son, Onni, was also afflicted by the Pox, and Tetyava was forced to abandon the boy when a new Chief claimed Kemi.
It was about this time that the Venerable Elder and spymaster, Nuyaksha Toke, dies from a disagreement with a meal. Syrka was in need of a new spymaster. Surprising many in Merya he chooses a young woman, Cherava Meryavid, the wife of the late King Nuyat’s son, Varaka and a new mother. She is strong and devious woman, not easily flustered and patient. But in a strange turn of events she only remains spy master for a few months. Unlike most of her predecessors, she is isn’t killed, she retires at the age of 23.
Not long after Cherava becomes spymaster, High Chief Parush 'the Careless’ of Mari, Syrka’s long-time rival vanishes without a trace. He is never found, and his fate remains a mystery. Syrka would have thought no more about it, other than being happy his enemy is finally gone. But in a surprising twist, Varaka, the husband of Syrka's new spymaster, is elected as the new High Chief of Mari and Syrka's spymaster, Cherava, is now High Chieftess of Mari. Did she use her new position as Spymaster to arrange Parush's disappearance? Syrka is not sure whether to thank her or arrest her. Either way, she has resigned her position and is on her way to Mari and Syrka once again needs a new spymaster. After looking through potential candidates for spymaster, he offers the position to Briachislav, the husband of Tetyava 'the Merry'. The Vohlynian, for all his skill at intrigue and his connections throughout Merya, was one of the most gifted and worthy men in Yaroslavl.
Syrka’s vassals remained busy with their own affairs outside of the war. High Chief Nuyaksha of Mochkava usurps Tynea and Perm from his Sunni vassal Biur. High Chief Folki of Iceland is under attack from High Chief Salindor over the Chiefdom of Nidaros. And Chief Erziya of Mozhaysk has one his own liberation war and usurped the Chiefdoms of Vorotynsk, Novosil, and Serpukhov from Pakstyan Velmaykid.
The war resumed in the spring, Upyte is taken from the Khazar rebels and more prisoners are taken for ransom, including the Queen Mother Ipek. Then Bryansk captured by Merya, and then Pochep is captured by Merya. There still has been no sign of the Khazar horde since the disasters at Vilnius and Beresty over two years earlier.
But the Meryans do have an ill-fated clash with Tarkhan’s Khazar rebels. The Meryan army and the rebels had met unexpexctedly at Karachev. While they were not technically at war and had a common enemy, they immediately are joined in battle. The Meryans actually had close to twice the rebel nunbers as the fight began, but by the end it was a close fought battle. Unfortunately, the Meryans break first and are slaughtered in the retreat, losing a costly battle that would have won them nothing. The survivors retreat north into the safety of the Forest.
Syrka releases the survivors and sends them home, and instead raises fresh levys to renew the war effort.
Then the Khazar horde has finally returns, and moves first to free its main encampment at Priluk. The Liberation of Minsk was going well, but the return of the Khazar horde may upset that progress. After the defeats at Vilnius and Beresty and their loss to the rebels at Karachev, Syrka is wary of meeting the horde in battle, but it looks like he doesn’t need to fear. The control of Minsk is key to victory and Merya has held it for over two years. But after the Khazar horde next frees Pronsk, they are still far from Minsk and they make no move to free Minsk or the rest of their lands. Their actions seem more angled toward improving their chances against Tarkhan’s rebellion, which has dragged on for close to 10 years, and the other two wars they are involved in. They appear to be ignoring Merya all together.
After consulting with the Council, Syrka sends an envoy to Khagan Bihor II to negotiate a peace between them. Minsk has been in Meryan hands long enough and the Khagan agrees to release it. The Liberation War for Minsk is over.